billh Posted July 21, 2007 Share #1 Posted July 21, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Twice now my M8 has acted totally dead. The first time it happened, I changed batteries, and it came alive. Today we were sailing in 20 knots of breeze and a beautiful old yawl was beating toward us. I turned on the M8 but it would not show any signs of life. I changed batteries, using one I know is freshly and fully charged, and still nothing. A little later I removed the card and the battery and reinstalled them, and it worked. Another interesting thing is that batteries the charger indicates are fully charged, only show as two thirds charged on the M8 window. This camera has been back from repair for about a week or so, and has the latest firmware (although I doubt that has anything to do with this issue). Does anyone know if this is an indication of pending doom, or if it is something I can rectify by some procedure? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 21, 2007 Posted July 21, 2007 Hi billh, Take a look here M8 dies for a time. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 21, 2007 Share #2 Posted July 21, 2007 Clean the contacts on the card and the battery? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted July 21, 2007 Clean the contacts on the card and the battery? Nope. But I will. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted July 21, 2007 Share #4 Posted July 21, 2007 Bill-- Since the charger and the camera disagree on the battery's state of charge, perhaps bringing the two into synch by disabling auto-off and leaving the camera on overnight would help. I believe I've seen that recommended in similar cases on the forum. Good luck! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted July 21, 2007 OK, I will try that too. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 21, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 21, 2007 I would not rely on the charger as a way of telling what the battery is doing. Better to use a voltmeter to test the battery. A battery right out of the charger should be 4.15 - 4.20v; "running on empty" is around 3.55v. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron110n Posted July 21, 2007 Share #7 Posted July 21, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would not rely on the charger as a way of telling what the battery is doing. Better to use a voltmeter to test the battery. A battery right out of the charger should be 4.15 - 4.20v; "running on empty" is around 3.55v. Mark, don't forget the DC Ampherage. -Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 21, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 21, 2007 Ron, I assume you mean the effect of current draw on the battery voltage; I'm speaking of open circuit voltage levels, such as you would measure with a voltmeter and a battery by itself. If you measured the voltage in-circuit, the voltages would be lower. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpattinson Posted July 21, 2007 Share #9 Posted July 21, 2007 Twice now my M8 has acted totally dead. The first time it happened, I changed batteries, and it came alive. Today we were sailing in 20 knots of breeze and a beautiful old yawl was beating toward us. I turned on the M8 but it would not show any signs of life. I changed batteries, using one I know is freshly and fully charged, and still nothing. A little later I removed the card and the battery and reinstalled them, and it worked. Another interesting thing is that batteries the charger indicates are fully charged, only show as two thirds charged on the M8 window. This camera has been back from repair for about a week or so, and has the latest firmware (although I doubt that has anything to do with this issue). Does anyone know if this is an indication of pending doom, or if it is something I can rectify by some procedure? Happened to me a month or so ago - in my case it was the SD card developing a fault. The camera appears to hang under some circumstances when it can't write to the card. I also 'fixed' it by removing and replacing the card, but ended up having to ditch the card as it recurred (reformatting didn't help). I doubt if it's your battery based on my experience and the fact that you changed batteries with no effect. David. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted July 21, 2007 I discharged the battery overnight (left the camera on), and the newly charged battery (it also charged overnight) still reads 2/3 charged in the M8. Is it not getting charged, or is the camera meter readout faulty? I will try another SD card too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 21, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 21, 2007 Bill, I would not be surprised if there was factory gunk on either the battery contacts or the SD contacts inside the camera. The easiest way to clean the contacts is with switch cleaner fluid, squirted onto the battery and SD card and then inserted and reinserted a few times. I had a faulty charge level indication battery problem, which this solved and my sister had exactly the same thing on her Nikon D50. The fluid is called Servisol in the UK but will probably have a different trade name in different countries. It is great stuff - I have used it for years on various electrical contacts. I have never had any plastic damaged by it. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted July 21, 2007 Thanks Wilson. I will look for it. The sensor is full of gunk that was not there when I sent it to Leica for repair. What are people using to clean it? In a way, this is like the early days of photography - always something to solve and fix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpattinson Posted July 21, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 21, 2007 Thanks Wilson. I will look for it. The sensor is full of gunk that was not there when I sent it to Leica for repair. What are people using to clean it? In a way, this is like the early days of photography - always something to solve and fix. Mine had circular spots - looked like oil perhaps, on the sensor when I got it. I used a product called 'green clean' made in Austria to wipe it off - they provide a venturii vacuum powered by a can of compressed air and a set of wet and dry swabs. I expect the Eclipse 2 wipes would work as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tummydoc Posted July 21, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 21, 2007 It might be informative if whenever someone reports a new fault/defect/failure/problem with their M8, if they would reveal as much of the serial number as they feel comfortable. Although it has been said that Leica's serial numbers are not consecutive they are by no means random, they are reserved in batches. So far there are three distinct serial batches of M8, starting with 31, 32, and 33. It would be interesting to see if newly reported faults are coming from the earlier batches (even if they've been to Solms for correction of another failure, or even if recently purchased new) that are failing in different ways (perhaps with time and use), or if the latest batch continues to be unreliable. Obviously AWB issues are set aside because it's clear they are still unresolved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted July 22, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 22, 2007 Vinay-- I know some people don't want to reveal their M8 serial numbers, and I guess a few probably are unconcerned about doing so. Just curious-- Why would I prefer not to reveal the serial number? What would it be revealing that I might not want known? Thanks! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 22, 2007 Share #16 Posted July 22, 2007 Vinay--I know some people don't want to reveal their M8 serial numbers, and I guess a few probably are unconcerned about doing so. Just curious-- Why would I prefer not to reveal the serial number? What would it be revealing that I might not want known? Thanks! --HC Howard, This serial number coyness has always puzzled me too. It is not as if someone is going to clone your M8 or lens and drive it through a speed trap. My M8 on which I have had lots of electrical niggles and quite a few recoverable lock-ups is an early serial 31000302 even though Leica confirm it has the later sensor and it was bought in January (obviously a refurbished return). BTW if anyone has 3102074, I have your warranty card and box! Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejcd Posted July 22, 2007 Share #17 Posted July 22, 2007 Hi there !! Yes i have problems with my M8 too, it does not switch on every time, and yes i have problems with the white balance too, its all over the place in night shotswith or without UV filter, and no i have not received the free filters after almost three months wait. And my M8 serial number is 3329686 cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 22, 2007 Share #18 Posted July 22, 2007 Hi there !! and no i have not received the free filters after almost three months wait. And my M8 serial number is 3329686 cheers I sent an email of complaint to Leica on Friday. A friend who I recommended to buy an M8, did so just over two weeks ago. He has already received his filters in the UK including an e60. I am still waiting for an e60 after 6 months and lots of emails to and fro, which keep saying "you will receive your e60 in a few days". I would not have thought it was rocket science to deliver the filters in the date order which people registered for the filters. This sort of thing is bound to generate ill will and is wholly unnecessary. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted July 22, 2007 Share #19 Posted July 22, 2007 Granted I didn't use my M8 a lot before the hardware fix at Solms in March and more after that, but I experienced only a single occasion when my camera with an early serial number, 3100078, stopped working. Knock on wood 3X. The good thing is, I knew that it was my fault. During an oversee travel, I had to "hide" the camera inside my vest and I forgot to turn it off. While hidden, the shutter speed fired 7-8 times with the lens cap on. I used a soft release button that sticks out quite a bit. I don't know the duration of the shutter speed each time but it was enough to drain the battery completely. When I put a newly charged battery on and it fired up right away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 22, 2007 Share #20 Posted July 22, 2007 Here's one possible reason why you might not want to disclose your serial no on a forum. When I posted my "Anatomy" thread, I included my serial number (3105477) to assure people that this camera was not suddenly going to be offered for sale to some unsuspecting buyer. I recently queried with Leica - "Where are my two filters for this camera?" - "It's not registered in your name, so you will not be getting any". If I was given to paranoia, I might wonder whether someone had taken my published serial number and somehow re-registered the camera... As for filters, I've now received 2 60s and 3 55s from Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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